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Copy 1 

THE LOST 
BOOK 

Restored Through 
Spirit Agency 




FREDERICK SEABORNE 



■ 




THE AUSTIN PUBLISHING COMPANY 

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 



c 



THE LOST 

Nefa testament 

BOOK 



Restored Through 
Spirit Agency 



Professedly a Continuation of the Acts of the Apostles 

down to the death of St. Peter and St. Paul, 

by Luke, and given to the World by 

Spirit Theophilus, through the 

hand of the Psychic 



FREDERICK SEABORNE 




THE AUSTIN PUBLISHING COMPANY 

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 



•^ 



7 






Copyrighted, 1920 
By FREDERICK SEABORNE 



Published by 
AUSTIN PUBLISHING COMPANY 
Los Angeles, California 



©CI.A576363 
Sf f I • I92C 



m 



TO THE READER 

By F. S. 

I will try to make the plainest statement of which I 
am capable concerning the most remarkable psychical 
experience I have ever had, and tell my story just 
as it occurred, as briefly as possible, setting down 
nothing of fancy, invention or exaggeration, remem- 
bering that upon me, as upon all men, rests the unlift- 
able obligation to tell the truth, especially in address- 
ing the public upon a subject that must ever be of 
vital importance to everybody. I will discharge that 
obligation to the full, not forgetting of course that 
mental phenomena are always somewhat mystical, 
and beyond that I am not responsible for what 
appears here. As to the value or validity of any part 
of it, narrative or document, you must decide for 
yourself, as I have done, and I will not intrude my 
opinions upon your attention. From first to last I 
have been but an implement in the hand of a higher 
power. 

Now for the story. 

My friend and I had agreed that the one who died 
first would communicate with the survivor, if he could, 
in whatever way might be available. After his death 
the compact haunted me for some time, and at length 
I attended a seance — my first. I did not tell any- 
body there or elsewhere the object of my visit, be- 
cause I wished to avoid the possibility of being influ- 
enced by another, unless it might be my deceased 
friend, and was skeptical of that. However, I tried 
to keep an open mind, to place myself in as receptive 
a state as I could, silently praying during the pro- 
ceedings that light might be vouchsafed me. 

No manifestation was made to me, audibly or other- 
wise, but I had an awed feeling or consciousness as 
of a spiritual presence which I attributed to the psy- 
chical atmosphere of a spiritualist meeting. On my 
way home and as I became normally reflective I felt 
disappointed in a mild way, although I had no reason 



to be, I suppose, in view of my hermetical reticence. 
Rather inconsistently I felt somewhat relieved, too, 
and I think my view of the matter then could be sum- 
marized in the muttered words with which I laid down 
to sleep — "There's nothing in it!" 

But in my sleep, or it might have been a trance — 
I am not familiar with psychic lore — I saw my friend, 
in his habit as he lived, as plainly as I ever had in 
the flesh, and talked with him as realistically. He 
told me many things that it is unnecessary to relate 
here respecting the life of the disembodied spirit, but 
one thing he said is relevant — that the so-called dead 
and the living are all here together, only a screen of 
flesh separating them. The spirits that have passed 
from earthly form, however, are freed from one of 
the greatest restrictions of this life in being able to 
communicate personally with the illustrious dead of 
all former ages, who have none of the aloofness 
familiar to our flesh-and-blood experiences, their wide 
world being safe for democracy in the most complete 
sense. 

Then followed the startling and perhaps unique hap- 
pening that is the cause and theme of this foreword. 
He told me that in view of my philanthropic desire 
to benefit my fellows to the utmost (exercised here- 
tofore in a humble and restricted way) he was author- 
ized to put me in communication with one who had a 
message to humanity to be delivered through me. 

He then faded from my vision and I was at once 
addressed by a clear voice as of some person directly 
in front of me, who said that visible presentation 
was unnecessary, as I could not know him and it 
might distract my attention from his message, which 
would demand great care and accuracy in its reception 
and relation. 

He told me that he was Theophilus, so surnamed 
when on earth to indicate his love of God; that he 
was the man to whom Luke, the evangelist, addressed 
the gospel book that bears his name and the other 
one that is called The Acts of the Apostles ; that Luke 
had written a third treatise which took up the story 
where the second one ended, and confided it to him 
for transmission to the churches; that it was taken 
from him, Theophilus, by a jailer and destroyed, but 
that he and his two fellow-prisoners had read it so 
often together they remembered every word of it, 
and, moreover, had been diligent to master it in view 



of the great probability of such a catastrophe as its 
destruction; that he had read it to several churches 
and many individuals before his arrest, and had hoped 
to reduce it to writing again. But he died in prison, 
chiefly from repeated ill-treatment, as did one of his 
companions; the third one suffered a public martyr- 
dom. He said that this was not the only book of 
Scripture that had been lost nor the only one re- 
stored, both for a wise purpose; that the loss of this 
one had given rise to the legend of the holy grail; 
that the time has arrived for the restoration of this 
book, in view of the movement to perfect a league 
of the nations, prophesied in the book, for the attain- 
ment of enduring peace and the gospel state of good- 
will; that the league is regarded, in the spirit world, 
as the greatest practical step, imperfect as it nat- 
urally is, toward the realization of the time-long 
yearning of all good people for a better state of life 
on earth, than has yet been concerted by the nations. 

He said he would give the book in English because 
the gospel has been more widely disseminated by 
English-speaking peoples than by the others; more- 
over, the principles of the League of Nations, of such 
great interest to the Spirit World, have had their 
first explicit expression in that language. He fur- 
ther said that the English tongue now holds the same 
position, but in a much larger sense, than the Greek 
formerly held, of predominance as the language of 
travel and commerce, and that it would hereafter be 
the chief medium for declaring to humanity the Divine 
purpose and counsel. 

He said he would cast it in similar form to the 
accepted English version (with modifications arising 
from speech expansion) because the people are accus- 
tomed to the literary style of that version and revere 
it; adding the instruction that I should later copy 
and versify it. After other statements that I will 
reserve as not now necessary to disclose, he said: 
"Write as I dictate," and in my vision I did so. Then, 
with the last word of the once lost book, his voice 
ceased. 

When I awoke I saw that nearly twelve hours had 
passed since I had sought my pillow ; and I was much 
fatigued, but I did not wonder at that when I saw, 
with a different wonder, the completed manuscript 
of the book, in my handwriting, on the table by the 
couchside. 

5 



I am a rapid writer, but it must have taken me 
some hours to commit it to paper unless extraordinary 
scriptic power accompanied the dictation, which may 
have been the case. 

Here follows the book, to which Theophilus gave no 
name. FREDERICK SEABORNE. 

516 Manning Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 



CHAPTER I 

1. Another treatise I write unto thee, faithful 
Theophilus, and first concerning the notable events 
which followed Paul's ministry in Rome. 

2. There was a certain Jew, Ozias by name, and he 
was one of them that believed when Paul spake of 
the kingdom to them which came in unto him to hear 
the gospel. 

3. The same gathered others for whom he had re- 
spect, and coming to Paul said, These would hear what 
thou hast to tell of Jesus, our Lord and Christ. 

4. To whom Paul said, I would to God that all the 
Jews which be in Rome, yea, in the whole world, would 
open their hearts and unstop their ears. For we 
speak and bear witness of the things which we have 
both seen and heard. 

5. Then he reasoned with all who came unto him 
for three days, and many of the more fair-minded of 
the Jews believed and rejoiced, for he unfolded the 
Scriptures unto them, with the true sense and mean- 
ing thereof; 

6. Proving from the law and the prophets that 
Jesus is the Christ, or the Messiah, as he is named 
in the Hebrew tongue. 

7. Howbeit the chief men of the Jews held aloof 
because he received the uncircumcised and heathen 
into brotherhood with Israel when they gave consent 
to his doctrine and adhesion by faith. 

8. But they privily gave heed to the report of 
others touching the things which were done in Jesus' 
name and were amazed thereat, yet still stiffened 
their necks and hardened their hearts. 

9. For Paul performed miracles through the laying 
on of hands and supplication in the name and power 
of Jesus. And some wavered and inclined toward the 
new doctrine of the Way, but kept silent through the 
fear of their brethren. 

10. Then Paul sent a letter unto them saying, Men 
and brethren, teachers of the Circumcision, who live 
in the hope of Israel and of the Christ to come. I 
bear witness freely that ye observe the faith of our 



fathers through which we have the Messiah promise. 

11. Therefore it seemeth right to admonish you yet 
again and to call upon you once more to search the 
Scriptures with me that haply ye might find him in 
Jesus ; 

12. Who hath opened mine eyes that once saw not, 
and anointed mine understanding that knew not ; hav- 
ing plucked me from the flame of hate and persecu- 
tion wherein I burned to consume the church of the 
living God. 

13. Suffer not yourselves to reject him who was 
manifestly born of the seed of David, according to 
the Scriptures, and hath become the elder brother of 
all that are saved through faith in his name; nor 
let another day pass over so great a matter without 
further enquiry. 

14. It is my heart's desire that ye should be saved, 
for we are brethren after the flesh, as all of the 
saved are brethren after the Spirit, according to the 
word and will of God. 

15. For verily the seed of David are the spiritual 
offspring of God, through the blood. 

16. I speak not in riddles, but according to the 
truth proclaimed by Moses, who suffered even Gen- 
tiles to be received into the congregation through 
their faith in him whom all sacrifices and ordinances 
foreshadowed. 

17. Now therefore appoint a day and place wherein 
we may reason together of these things. And if so 
be that we or ye be found in darkness, then may the 
other of us bring light to them that are benighted. 

18. Which light must needs be found in the Scrip- 
tures, as David saith, Thy word is a lamp unto my 
feet and a light unto my path. And this lamp hath 
been replenished, from time to time, with the oil of 
truth through the prophets; and now more greatly 
through Jesus who is the Light of the whole world. 

19. And with many other words did Paul exhort 
them to weigh the gospel thoroughly and to read and 
examine the Scriptures with an open mind and clear 
conscience. 

20. For he deemed it meet to give them yet another 
opportunity to learn that Jesus is in very truth and 
deed the hope of Israel, about which there was 
no small dissension among their followers. 

21. And this he did, also, as he himself said, that 
his conscience might be void of offense toward them 
and all men. 



22. Moreover he thought that if the leaders of this 
people were converted the gospel would spread the 
more rapidly in Rome and elsewhere. 



CHAPTER II 

1. But Zeraias and Aneiah, the chief men, scorned 
the message and cut the letter in pieces. And thrust- 
ing PauPs messenger from the door entreated him 
evilly; and mocking said, 

2. Of a truth your master would fain teach gray- 
beards and learned men with childish prattle and 
foolish perversions of the word. 

3. We are not ignorant of the Scriptures, being 
teachers of the holy writings, and have diligently read 
them from our youth up. We both know and inter- 
pret them, understanding the very words of the law 
and the prophets ; yea, all of them. 

4. Return and tell this Saul, alias Paul, and indeed 
he is little and of less account than little in our eyes, 
that he is distraught through the stripes that were 
well laid on him in Philippi, which should be repeated 
in Rome. 

5. But others rebuked them saying, Not so; this 
Paul is a just man, one that feareth God and hath 
kept the faith of our fathers in the straitest way 
from a child; with all our customs and ordinances, 
and hath wisely searched the Scriptures concerning 
the Messiah. 

6. Did not our hearts bear witness within us as he 
discoursed, showing from the prophets that the Christ 
should come about the time and in such manner as 
this Jesus hath appeared? And verily the time hath 
come for the Deliverer, else the prophets and all the 
wisest of our nation have been in error. 

7. We should have light and comfort, not violence 
and contumely. And great strife arose among them 
insomuch that some of the more heady fell even unto 
blows. 

8. And this came to pass because they who favored 
Paul were for saving his servant from the others. 
For these made no scruple of laying violent hands 
upon him. 

9. And when the uproar was at its height came 
soldiers and haled the chief actors before the magis- 
trate, and the worst of them were mulcted in divers 

9 



sums for the tumult that had been made. And stripes 
were laid upon such as had nothing wherewith to 
pay. 

10. After this the Jews sought to lay a complaint 
against Paul and appealed to certain of Caesar's 
guard, saying, This fellow is an inciter of sedition. 

11. Let Caesar look to it, for he will sow the seeds 
of confusion and discontent among the more restless 
part of the free people of Rome and among the bond- 
servants also. 

12. Ye do plant trouble if ye suffer him to speak 
and write as it pleaseth him, for he seeketh to set up 
another kingdom, affirming that one, Jesus, hath been 
appointed king by the gods. Yea, king of Rome and 
the whole world. Look to it. 

13. Then Polinus, an officer of Caesar's household, 
though he believed not that aught could shake the 
power of Rome, sent commandment to Paul that he 
should cease to speak or write concerning Jesus of 
Nazareth. 

14. But when Paul received the command he said, 
I do but live to preach Christ and him will I preach, 
the crucified and glorified, while I have breath. The 
chain I wear cannot bind my soul. 

15. And he continued to proclaim his name as occa- 
sion offered to all who would hear, and wrote letters 
to the churches at divers times. 

16. Then the word grew and prospered and certain 
even of Caesar's household heard and believed, with 
many of the soldiers who were bound to Paul from 
time to time. 

17. Also it came to pass that in many parts of 
Rome there were found men and women who openly 
rejoiced in the hope of Christ's second coming and of 
eternal life with him. 

18. These came together on the first day of the 
week, which the apostles called the Lord's Day be- 
cause of his resurrection, and on that day they would 
do no manner of work, except the needful, yet fasted 
not but rejoiced and worshipped. And their children 
played with none to hinder them, after they had been 
instructed in the way of God. 

19. At Paul's lodging, or in some other house 
offered by one of the brethren, they sang the psalms 
of David and other hymns, and prayed. 

20. At such times Paul and others preached to them 
of the wondrous doings of God in the revelation of 

JO 



Jesus Christ. Then the Holy Ghost moved all their 
hearts to gladness and fear and they who were of the 
faith were made to exercise the gifts that were 
bestowed upon them. 

21. And scoffers were confounded and such as came 
to question were silenced ; sinners also were convinced 
and turned from their evil ways, for the saints of old 
and others who slept oft appeared unto them, as 
angels, with words of great cheer and truths new and 
old. 



CHAPTER III 

1. On such a day, when the people were gathered 
at the house of Linus, a devout believer, and Paul was 
preaching ; 

2. A certain image-maker, named Jurian, stood up 
and questioned Paul concerning the birth of Jesus, 
affirming that he was conceived and born as other 
men and was moreover the fruit of sin. 

3. Him Paul looked upon and said, O thou seed of 
iniquity, full of evil imaginings as a pomegranate of 
pips, and skilled in all manner of blasphemy, it ill 
becometh thee to question the mysteries of the true 
and only God; 

4. For by thine own false faith and superstition 
thou believest and teachest such senseless things as 
that Minerva sprang from the head of Jupiter, and 
that Venus, the lascivious goddess, was born of the 
foam of the sea. 

5. But that God, who created men and all other 
living things; yea, and spake the world and sun and 
stars into being, could also quicken a babe in the 
womb of a virgin, that ye say could not be, Verily, 
there be some here who know that God oft createth 
in form of man and woman, angels, who appear unto 
them with messages of great cheer and news of truth, 
the same being saints of old once known on earth. 

6. And some are standing here who shall die for the 
truth and reappear in the flesh as ministering angels, 
for this Jesus whom thou revilest hath brought the 
world of spirit and the world of flesh together and 
immortality to the light through his gospel. 

7. Now, therefore, that all may know that the Most 
High ruleth yet among the children of men and that 
blasphemers may be brought to confusion, thine evil 



tongue shall be stricken dumb and thine eyes with 
blindness even until the next Lord's Day. 

8. Then he essayed to answer Paul but could not, 
for his tongue refused him utterance, and making 
frantic signs he was led away to his own house, his 
eyes being sealed. 

9. And great fear fell upon all who saw and heard 
this, and many pressed around Paul and strove to 
touch his hands and his garments; others fell at his 
feet and worshipped him, saying, 

10. Thou art a god and the gods have come down 
among men again. And one man of great possessions 
offered to build a temple to him. 

11. But Paul rebuked them all and said, I am no 
god, but a man like unto yourselves, born of man and 
woman. But I believe in God and his son Jesus, the 
Saviour, who was born of a virgin and died for our 
sins. 

12. In His name hath this been done, and in His 
name shall greater things than this be done, not by 
me only but by many that shall come after me until 
the end of time. 

13. And he fervently exhorted them to believe on 
Jesus' name and forsake the false gods that had en- 
slaved their hearts and the hearts of their fathers. 
For many scoffers had gathered there to confound 
Paul. 

14. Then many of these men believed and there 
were added to the church that day two hundred, three 
score and five souls who were baptized. And Paul 
appointed baptizers from among the brethren. 

15. But at the end of the time appointed by the 
Spirit, to-wit the next Lord's Day, the man who had 
blasphemed received back his speech and sight, and 
with his first words he confessed his sin and repented 
of his unbelief and wickedness ; saying, 

16. Of a truth I perceive that God can do all things 
that pleaseth Him, and that men are but grains of 
dust in his hands and under his feet when they oppose 
him and despise his Son. 

17. And he said unto Paul, Can I be forgiven for 
my great sin and blasphemy? And Paul said unto 
him, None are so guilty that Jesus cannot save if there 
be true repentance and faith. 

18. Then when he heard what Paul said, he fell 
with his face to the earth and cried unto heaven for 
pardon, with many tears, until the Spirit manifested 



his forgiveness, when he rejoiced in his salvation, and 
gave Jesus the glory without stint. 

19. And he said, My fathers prided themselves in 
the name which I do bear, but henceforth my name 
shall be Demissus, for I have been humbled from my 
pride, and am glad therefor. And as long as I live 
will I walk with the humblest of Christ's disciples. 

20. And he was baptized, praising God and exhort- 
ing all to follow Jesus. Thus did this man continue, 
day by day, in the fellowship of the disciples, testify- 
ing without ceasing, to the great wonder of his former 
followers and companions, many of whom also entered 
upon the way of life and walked therein. 

21. And being much gifted in song, Demissus led 
the singers on the Lord's Day and at other times, 
when they came together to worship. 



CHAPTER IV 

1. Then the Jews that received not Christ being 
yet exceeding mad against Paul, took counsel together 
how they might destroy him and the church ; for they 
said, The Christians do grow stronger every day, and 
we weaker. For many of their kindred forsook them 
for the Way. 

2. Accordingly the chief among them said to the 
others, This man, Paul, as ye know, hath appealed 
unto Caesar; now let us endeavor to have him brought 
speedily unto his trial, and we will procure witnesses 
against him. So they suborned certain base fellows 
who were without money. 

3. These belonged not to Rome, and were desirous to 
return to their own cities and countries, being also 
for the most part vagabonds. 

4. The same affirmed their readiness to testify to 
many things against Paul and the other Christians, 
which they were diligently taught to say. 

5. And because some of these unbelieving Jews had 
influence among certain of the household of Caesar 
and gave them money, Paul was at length commanded 
to be brought before him on a certain day. 

6. And the night before he was to stand before 
Caesar to be judged, an angel of the Lord appeared 
unto him in a vision saying, Fear not Paul. Thou 
shalt be brought before Caesar indeed, as was prom- 
ised thee on the sea and in the storm. 



7. But thine enemies shall succeed in nothing as 
touching thee, for thine hour is not yet come. There 
be many things for thee to do and to suffer, and thou 
shalt visit many cities and proclaim the gospel. 

8. Then it came to pass at the time appointed that 
when Caesar sat on the seat of judgment, with his 
council about him, and in his presence his greatest 
captains at the head of many soldiers, in much pomp 
and gorgeous array; 

9. Paul was confronted with his accusers, who were 
commanded to stand forth, to testify against him, one 
by one. And the apostle of Jesus the Lord looked 
upon them undismayed, for there was no guilt in him, 

10. But when each witness was commanded to speak 
he trembled and stammered, or cast down his eyes 
and was silent. 

11. For the angel of the Lord had smitten all of the 
false witnesses with a great fear. And Caesar, being 
greatly astonished, grew wroth and commanded the 
soldiers to scourge them from his presence. 

12. And Caesar said, What hath this man to plead? 
Let him speak, and briefly. Then the chief of the 
Council said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak. 

13. Whereupon Paul stood forth before the judg- 
ment seat and said, I thank thee, Caesar, that 
great as thou art I am permitted to speak before thee 
and thy council on my own behalf and for my cause. 

14. For I am persuaded that the God whom I serve 
hath inclined thine heart to equity in this matter. 

15. Know then that as a Roman citizen I have but 
exercised my right, both here in Rome and in Jeru- 
salem whence I came in bonds to appeal unto thee 
from the persecution which I suffered at the hands 
of men not citizens. 

16. The right, I say, as a citizen, to declare before 
all men those truths which I believe, and that do not 
offend thee nor the senate and people of Rome. 

17. And at all times and everywhere I have been 
obedient to the laws of Rome and the decrees of 
Caesar, and have preached such obedience to my 
brethren, that they might be blameless in their con- 
duct and live in peace with all men. 

18. For he whom I serve and worship, even Jesus, 
hath ever enjoined his disciples to render unto Caesar 
the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things 
that are God's. 



19. And Caesar said unto his Council, Is there aught 
against this man further than we have heard? And 
they said, Nothing appeareth. 

20. Then Caesar said unto Paul, I do set thee at 
liberty. Go thou and serve thy God and me. And do 
thou serve Rome as faithfully as thou servest thy 
God. 

21. Thus was Paul freed from his chain. And from 
that time none durst forbid his message to Jew or 
Gentile. And his fame spread abroad yet more and 
more and Christians multiplied in the city and 
beyond it. 



CHAPTER V 

1. At this time came brethren with letters from 
across the sea to Paul, which he read. And in one of 
them it was written, There be men in Asia that pro- 
claim the kingdom of God ignorantly, speaking not of 
the resurrection and knowing naught concerning it. 

2. And one of these, who calleth himself Elias the 
son of Elias, knowing none of the things that hap- 
pened unto Jesus Christ, preacheth repentance and 
righteousness in the name of Elias only. And he 
baptizeth with the baptism of John. 

4. And we have written letters and sent messages 
to him, rebuking him for his doctrines and have 
denied him our fellowship and countenance, yet he 
continueth in his way. 

5. Then was Paul grieved in his heart and he said, 
It hath happened unto the new Israel as unto the old 
that some are slow to understand the spirit of the 
word. 

6. He that preacheth repentance hath himself re- 
pented, and he that preacheth righteousness is him- 
self righteous. Now Jesus is the one who is the per- 
fection of righteousness, and these men of Asia are 
following after him and in due time will even overtake 
and walk in the full light with him. And unto those 
brethren he wrote and said, 



7. Verily there be many of the sons of God that 
have not yet heard of the sufferings and crucifixion 
of our Lord, of his doctrine in the gospel or his resur- 
rection. Such forbid not but instruct, yea, yearn 
greatly to instruct in love. 

8. And this should ye do lest ye quench the Spirit 
that is in them. Behold I show unto you a greater 
resurrection. If Jesus Christ be not risen in your 
hearts to a new and holy life, wherein love crowneth 
all your thoughts, he hath died in vain and all our 
travail for you is vain. 

9. Forget not that all things are for your sake, that 
ye may be regenerate and the world of sin rebuked 
and brought to repentance through your example of 
wisdom and godliness. How then are ye wise if ye 
punish who should nourish? 

10. Feed the babes of grace with the true milk of 
the gospel. Thus shall ye be wise to the least as to 
the greatest, gentle to the lowly as to the learned 
and mighty ; forgetting not that wisdom is the cream 
of righteousness. 

11. If ye have not wisdom as ye deal with others 
in matters of the kingdom great is your lack; yet, 
small your store of good things for the needy if ye 
have not that part of a righteous life. 

12. Truly, sun and star shine for naught if ye shine 
not with the light of righteousness. Hath not the 
Sun of Righteousness arisen in your hearts and lives 
that through you he may give light unto a world 
darkened in ignorance and sin? 

13. For behold the truth that Christ's bodily resur- 
rection and his ascension are the types and symbols 
and promises of the new birth and of salvation, and 
if we be not born again to a life of love and faith 
they are nothing to us. 

14. Little it mattereth what we think of resurrec- 
tions if we be not risen with him. Pray fervently 
that ye may not drive back, with hard words, the pil- 
grim from the wilderness who cometh toward the 
holy city to see Jesus his Lord. 

15. O Israel, Israel, children of the new covenant, 
when will ye perceive the worth of your divine in- 
heritance and your high calling in Christ Jesus ? And 
as he wrote he wept. 

16. Then a few days after this came a man from 
Teanum saying, There be men and women at Teanum 
who would have thee help them, if thou wilt; for 

16 



many are enquiring of them for knowledge of the 
way of life, and they need more perfect instruction 
therein. 

17. To him Paul said, I do but live to serve, there- 
fore will I serve them gladly. And we went to that 
city. 

18. And passing through a certain village which 
was on our way, two brothers, young men and twins, 
who were much afflicted, saw us. These were born 
cripples and were both palsied. Moreover their bodies 
and their limbs were so bent and deformed that they 
could not move of their own accord, but were carried 
withersoever they went. 

19. When Paul looked upon them with compassion, 
they cried mightily unto him, in faith and weeping, 
and were healed. 

20. For Paul stopped and cried, Listen, ye people. 
And the people, who were many, gathered around the 
young men, to see what might happen. 

21. And unto the crippled ones Paul said, Will ye 
both believe now that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, 
can save and heal to the uttermost through his 
servant that speaketh? 

22. Then they answered and said with much earn- 
estness, Yea, verily, verily, we will believe and do 
believe. Save and heal us for the sake of Jesus 
if he be thy God ; for none of the Roman gods have 
helped us though much money hath been spent to 
invoke their aid. 

23. And we must speedily perish if thou canst not 
help us. Then Paul prayed and said, God, that 
hearest the prayer of faith, show the heathen thy 
power, even now, for Jesus' sake, and heal these poor 
suffering ones. And looking steadfastly upon them 
as they supplicated, he said, In the name of Jesus 
the crucified, be ye made whole. 

24. And immediately their bodies and their limbs 
received strength and straightness, and they brake 
away from their servants and attendants and casting 
themselves at Paul's feet embraced them. And they 
kissed his hands and his garments. 

25. But Paul gently forbade them and raised them 
from their knees, and they passed on to their own 
house with hands clasped and side by side amid shouts 
of joy and wonder. 



26. For the multitude ran and followed with them, 
marveling beyond measure at the miracle, the broth- 
ers being known to all because of their lifelong 
infirmities. 

27. And ere the brothers reached their home their 
mother met them, for neighbors had hasted to tell 
her. Now she was a widow and very rich. 

28. And after she had embraced her sons she 
sought out Paul, but found him not for we had de- 
parted immediately toward Teanum. But following 
with her friends and servants, she came up to us and 
said unto Paul, I do give my life, be it long or short, 
and all my substance unto the Lord, the God who hath 
healed and saved my sons. And do thou, when thou 
returnest, stay at my house and instruct us in the 
way thy God would have us to go. And Paul prom- 
ised and did so. 

CHAPTER VI 

1. The tidings of this miracle spreading to Teanum 
greatly helped our work there, for sinners were 
brought into the kingdom by scores and a strong 
church was established in the city. 

2. Now certain of the Jews in Rome who believed 
said unto the Gentile brethren, Except ye observe the 
Sabbath, as Moses commanded, ye cannot be saved. 

3. For the unbelieving Jews made mock of them 
saying, The Christians are Sabbath breakers and are 
worthy of death. 

4. Whereupon divers of the brethren received their 
doctrine and many were troubled in their hearts 
because the law saith, Remember the Sabbath day 
to keep it holy. 

5. But when Paul heard thereof he said, Know ye 
not that Christ is the end and aim and fulfilment of 
the law? Now is Christ become our Sabbath, for we 
have entered into his rest of which the Sabbath was 
a figure and a prophecy. 

6. We do observe the Lord's day, for he hath for- 
ever hallowed it by his resurrection; yet not in lieu 
of Moses' Sabbath but as a memorial of what he hath 
done for us. 

7. The seventh day was a memorial of our fathers' 
deliverance from the bondage of Egypt and of the 
creation of the world, but the first day is a memorial 
of the new creation and of our salvation from the 
bondage of sin and ceremonial. 

J* 



8. The seventh day is no more to us now than any- 
other day, but the first is a feast of life unto us, for 
as David saith, This is the day the Lord hath made, 
we will rejoice and be glad in it. It is not a day to 
fast, but one of thankfulness and holy mirth, with 
worship. 

9. And verily it is the greatest day on which the 
sun hath yet risen, for thereon Jesus finished his 
atonement for our sins and announced the glad tidings 
himself to the disciples ; giving an example for us to 
follow, also, in appearing unto them twice, on that 
day, both morning and evening. 

10. And both morning and evening did Jesus preach 
unto them, expounding the Scriptures for their edifica- 
tion and ours. Likewise he brake bread in their midst, 
as do we, for we believe and know that he is then 
present with us, as with them, according to his 
promise. 

11. And in the act the Lord affirmed that the bread 
figured forth his body which was broken that we 
might be made whole, through faith in his sacrifice. 

12. Unto the unbelieving Jews Paul said, Ye are 
debtors to do the whole law, are ye not? Will ye 
therefore stone these brethren unto death, as the law 
of Moses commandeth, because they keep not the 
Sabbath? 

13. If ye do not slay them for the transgression, 
ye do yourselves break the commandment of Moses 
and make it void, becoming yourselves transgressors 
and meriting the penalty of death. 

14. But I say unto you all that the Sabbath is not 
hallowed by resting on the seventh day from labor 
and journey alone. Did not the Lord command that 
the day should be kept holy? Now idleness is not 
holiness. The day could be hallowed only by worship. 

15. Wherefore he commanded that two he lambs 
without blemish should be sacrificed on the seventh 
day, one in the morning and one in the evening, and 
two tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour for a meal- 
offering, mingled with oil, and the drink-offering 
thereof. 

16. And these must be offered by a priest who is 
a true son of Levi, for if another offer them, not of 
the loins of Levi, he shall be slain for his presump- 
tion under the same law. 



17. Behold the time is at hand, and many now 
living shall see it, when the priest and the temple 
itself shall be no more, as Jesus Christ and the proph- 
ets have declared. Yea, not one stone shall be left 
upon another. 

18. Thus shall it speedily come to pass that no man 
that liveth can keep the seventh day as the Sabbath, 
howsoever he trieth so to do. Only the memory of it 
shall remain, even a perpetual memorial of Israel's 
disobedience. 

19. For when the temple shall be destroyed the 
priest shall himself be the final sacrifice, as his blood 
floweth among the broken stones thereof and the 
fragments of the altar, that the Scriptures may be 
fulfilled. 

20. Well said the prophet Hosea, Thus saith the 
Lord, I will cause all her Sabbaths to cease and all 
her solemn feasts. Doth not God keep his word? 
Yea, he will keep it to the uttermost, and the Sabbath 
of Moses must cease to be observed. Neither Jew nor 
Christian can observe it. 

21. Moreover the prophet saith, My people are 
destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast 
rejected knowledge I also will reject thee that thou 
shalt be no priest unto me. Thus we see that the law 
shall be fulfilled, with the word of the prophet, even 
unto the last word and the least. 

22. Unto the churches Paul wrote and said, Follow 
the Lord in your observance of the first day of the 
week. Note ye that the two he lambs without blemish 
offered morning and evening are types of the wor- 
ship morning and evening of the lamb of God that 
taketh away the sin of the world. 

23. And the offering of the fine flour and of the oil 
and the drink offering do show that no food is too 
good to be eaten on this holy feast day. There shall 
be no sad faces among you on this day. 

24. The old Israel of the Sabbaths and the altar 
sacrifices passeth away to its last vestige; and the 
new Israel, with the royal house of Judah, that hath 
Christ as its king, is come. 

25. When the prophet Hosea declareth the ending 
of the Sabbath of the Jew, he saith also, Ye are not 
my people and I will not be your God, and, I will no 
more have mercy upon the house of Israel that I 
should in any wise pardon them. 

20 



26. Yet he said that the new Israel should be as 
the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor 
numbered, and all these multitudes that were not 
God's people aforetime, shall appoint unto themselves 
one head (which is Christ) and shall go up from the 
land; meaning that not in one land only, but in all 
lands the true Israel shall be found. 

27. Worshiping not in a temple of stone built in 
one city and one land only, but in living tabernacles 
wherein the Shekinah dwelleth, for God shall go with 
the pilgrim whithersoever he goeth. 

28. The same prophet saith also that the new Israel 
shall not call him Master, but Husband, and where- 
fore? Because he saith, I will betroth thee unto me 
in righteousness. For in truth the church is the bride 
of Christ, and his righteousness is her salvation. Let 
her then be without spot or blemish of sin or dead 
law. 

29. We that are free from the law, shall we return 
unto bondage? Or shall we abandon grace for ordi- 
nance, turning back again from Jesus unto Moses? 

30. Let us not follow Moses and Aaron into the 
wilderness again, or any other ; but having come unto 
the land of promise, let us dwell together in the 
goodly land, with Jesus as our king and accepting no 
other lawgiver or counselor. 

31. Howbeit, if for conscience sake one abstain from 
labor on the seventh day but honoreth the Saviour 
on the first day, do not cast him out but instruct him, 
in love, that he may be enlightened. 

CHAPTER VII ,- ^ 

1. About this time, Paul being desirous of visiting 
the churches in other cities, and learning that Peter 
would shortly be in Rome to care for all things need- 
ful, we journeyed to Brundisium and there took ship 
for the east. And visiting sundry places came unto 
Macedonia. 

2. And whithersoever we went, under Paul's min- 
istry, churches sprang up like the herbage of spring, 
and we lived a life of spiritual joy, men and women 
gladly believing and being baptized and united in 
church fellowship. 



3. Both Jews and Gentiles, forgetting their past vari- 
ances, utterly forsook their former beliefs and lived 
in entire obedience to the gospel^ ; dividing their sub- 
stance as each had need and in all things equalizing 
themselves to the others in love. 

4. Then came one of the brethren, who was born a 
Jew, with a letter from Jewish Christians in Achaia 
with this complaint, There be certain men here who, 
not having knowledge of the written word, do try to 
preach Christ from the weed by the wayside and the 
stones thereof. 

5. If thou wilt forbid them, by virtue of the author- 
ity reposed in thee by the Holy Ghost, they may 
cease to appeal to natural things in proof of the gos- 
pel, which practice seemeth to us to savor of idolatry 
and nature worship. 

6. For they will not hearken unto those of us who 
have forbidden these teachings. And the brother who 
brought the letter added his voice to the written 
words of the epistle. 

7. Then Paul, speaking in the wisdom of the Holy 
Ghost, said, Suppose ye that the words of Moses and 
the prophets be all? I tell ye Nay, even as the Lord 
Jesus would say, but whatsoever is true and righteous 
is of the word of God, by whomsoever uttered and 
wheresoever found. 

8. Thou seest the flowers of the field and their 
beauty ; in them God speaketh to him that hath eyes 
and ears to hear. For thou knowest that Jesus said, 
Consider the lilies and the fowls of the air, and told 
his disciples to read the truth of God that is written 
on the things that he hath made. 

9. The bird in the air and the cattle in the field, 
the lion that roareth in the wood and the leaf that 
trembleth on the tree; the fish in the sea and what- 
soever moveth in the paths thereof; 

10. Yea, everything that liveth and dieth, in its life 
and in its death declareth the glory and majesty of 
God, and speaketh of his care and regard for man. 

11. From the highest heaven to the lowest deep 
the word affirmeth his will unto us and our ci^ldren 
forever, that we might know his ever-presence and 
constant oversight. 

12. Remember ye not how David read even the 
clouds and the winds, the stars and the tempests, 
even as men read an open book, and said, The heavens 
declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth 
his handiwork? 



13. And again he saith of the righteous man that 
he shall be like a tree planted by the streams that 
nourish the roots thereof, to bring forth his fruit in 
due season and bear an unwithering leaf. 

14. And of the wicked that though he seem to 
flourish like a green bay tree he shall be brought low. 
What thing is there that is good that the eye can 
see and the hand can touch that doth not wear as a 
crown the light and glory of heaven? 

15. We may learn the wisdom of the Almighty and 
the love of Christ when we open our eyes in the 
morning on the scenes of earth and close them at 
night to visions of heaven; 

16. His truth in the doings of today and in the hap 
and mishap of days that are past, and in whatsoever 
shall befall on the morrow; for as David saith, Day 
unto day uttereth speech and night unto night show- 
eth forth knowledge. 

17. Why then do ye seek to limit God to that which 
hath been written? Behold much that hath been 
written hath been lost, even of God's word. And Solo- 
mon saith, Of the making of books there is no end. 
What hath happened to all those books? They have 
been destroyed and no trace of them remaineth. But 
the word of God written in his works remaineth. 

18. And I say unto you, by the word and Spirit of 
the Most High, that in the years to come great men 
shall seek diligently to read God's word in his works, 
and despite the enmity of many proud and ignorant 
within the church and without, shall bring forth to 
the light great truths that shall make for the bet- 
terment of men and women and children and trie 
patient beast of burden that serveth them with its 
strength. And these seekers shall patiently prove 
their science, which is also of God. 

19. And some of these shall be persecuted even 
unto death by the misguided ones who shall believe 
they are doing God's service in zeal and faith, whi*e 
setting up stones of stumbling. 

20. All truth is as one body, no part thereof being 
in contradiction to another part, but all working 
together in harmony like unto the parts and powers 
of a living man who is hale and sound in everv 
member. J 

21. Is God bound in a book or the scroll of a book 
he whom the seas and skies cannot contain, and whom 
naught can bind or stay? 

23 



22. Through his Spirit I say unto you that except 
God reveal himself from day to day, in the hearts of 
men and the things that he bringeth to pass, the 
world shall become as a stagnant pool; and if it con- 
tinue thus all must come to destruction and every 
soul wither away. 

23. And this must needs be so, for, as the prophet 
saith, Where there is no vision the people cast off 
restraint. Then the dam being broken the flood Com- 
eth, bringing destruction in its rage. 

24. All things will work in harmony for our good 
if we forget not that Jesus Christ hath shown our 
heavenly Father to be one who will uphold and en- 
lighten us, if we will, and supply every new need that 
we could not foresee. 

25. Let us, therefore, look for God in everything. 
Thus shall we see his face afresh each day and hour 
thereof and be comforted and heartened. And he 
charged us all, saying, 

26. See that ye forbid not him that speaketh, for 
the Allwise and Almighty One worketh in many ways 
and testifieth in many tongues. And so he wrote also 
to the brethren. 

27. And shortly thereafter we received word of the 
wonderful things that were happening in Rome to the 
glory of God. 

CHAPTER VIII 

1. There were three devout women in Rome who 
were sisters, but not by the same mother. The eldest 
was named Julia and she was married and had chil- 
dren. Her husband also was a Christian. 

2. The others, children of the same mother, were 
named Varia, a widow, and Clelia, a virgin. These 
sisters communed with the spirit continually and 
sought the Lord in all their affairs. 

3. With these consorted many of the godly of Rome 
and were much edified thereby, for their wisdom, 
which was great, was of the Lord. 

4. Neither prided they themselves upon their wis- 
dom or their deeds, but gave God the glory in all that 
they said and did. 

5. And it came to pass that many persons that were 
sick or had ancient complaints were, through their 
ministrations and supplications, cured and made 
whole. 

24 



6. To them came one, Trigellus by name, who by- 
reason of an ague that for many years had shaken 
him was so feeble that he could not walk. For when 
he heard of the great works that were being done at 
the sisters' house he commanded his servants to place 
him in a litter and carry him to them. 

7. And when he was come thither the sisters, with 
others, were within praying and singing the psalms 
of David, besides playing on instruments of music. 

8. And when he had been brought within the house 
he said unto the sisters, I have heard that ye have 
cured many of grievous ailments through the power, 
as I suppose, of Hygeia and Esculapius. 

9. I will give unto you the half of all I possess if 
ye will restore me to health ; for as I am I must soon 
die, and I promise to faithfully revere every charm 
and strictly observe every instruction that ye may 
give me. Now he was a man of great possessions. 

10. But Julia answered and said, We serve the only 
true God and not Mammon, nor any of the Gods of 
Rome. We are not of them that heal for hire, and of 
ourselves we can do nothing. 

11. If thou wouldest be healed, believe on him who 
is the greatest of all physicians, who made every herb 
for bane or healing, even the God whom we worship. 
He hath sent his son on earth in the likeness of man 
to prove that through faith in his name all may be 
saved and every hurt or ill removed. 

12. And this he hath proved that he can and will 
do if we confess our sins and utterly forsake all idols 
and look unto him, for thou canst not carry thy gods 
into his holy presence and find acceptance with him. 
As he hath said, Thou shalt have no other God but 
me only. 

13. Wilt thou renounce thy gods and believe on 
Jesus the Saviour of sinners? Wilt thou believe on 
him that saveth the soul of man and cureth the ills 
of the flesh and mind? 

14. And Trigellus said, Tell me more of him that I 
may believe , And she answered him saying, In his 
lifetime on earth he showed his power by healing all 
manner of sickness, in raising the dead and casting 
out demons ; and now that he is no longer in the flesh 
he saveth and healeth through the faith and suppli- 
cation of those who follow him. 

25 



15. Put thy whole trust in him and surrender thy 
whole heart into his keeping, and hold all thy posses- 
sions as his steward. This it is to believe on his 
name, and less than this he will not receive. 

16. Trust no more in physicians, their charms and 
their drugs, which are for the unbeliever, and verily 
thou shalt be made whole, both in soul and body. 
Then he earnestly asked them, How must I believe? 

17. And they formed a circle around the litter, and 
the three sisters prayed for him in turn, as did others, 
while he prayed with them. 

18. Then the spirit came upon them all and Trigel- 
lus said, Behold a power from on high hath touched 
my heart and is even now strengthening my limbs. 
And they exhorted him the more to turn his thoughts 
from his heathen errors and from his ailments and 
to look only to Jesus. 

19. And he wept and cried, Help me, Jesus, thou 
sole Saviour of men. And still weeping and praying, 
he arose from the litter and walked slowly to his 
home without help, looking neither to the right nor 
to the left, and when he had arrived there he closed 
the door of his own private chamber to be alone with 
God, as he said. 

20. Now he had not stood on his feet before for 
many months. And all that saw it praised God, say- 
ing, His strength is returning unto him. 

21. And on the next day, as the sisters sat at meat, 
with divers other persons, behold one at the door who 
asked in a strong voice for admittance. And when 
he was come in it was Trigellus, but he looked not 
like the feeble man of the day before. 

22. For whereas he had been bent and infirm and 
unable to sit upright for more than a few moments, 
he now stood forth upright and in lusty health, bear- 
ing himself in manly fashion. 

23. Then Trigellus said, May the blessing of God 
who through his son, Jesus Christ and you, hath 
restored me to health, rest upon this house and upon 
all therein. And they who heard said, Amen, and 
did all rejoice together, praising God. 

CHAPTER IX 
1. But Patero, the physician, having heard a rumor 
of the healing of Trigellus, came to his house and 
enquired of him, saying, Why hast thou not sent for 
me these many days? 

26 



2. Now he was amazed at the change in Trigellus, 
for he was now fair of face whose skin had been as 
parchment when he last had looked upon him. 

3. Then Trigellus told him what had happened unto 
him and that the sisters had refused payment for 
the cure. But Patero stopped him by saying, It be- 
cometh not thy dignity to consort with Christians, for 
they have no open following among the more honor- 
able people of Rome, and among them are many 
servants whom they are reputed to treat as equals. 

4. Wilt thou become as one of them, and thereby 
enter into equal fellowship with thine own servants, 
with the bondservants bought by thee in the market? 

5. And Trigellus answered and said earnestly, I 
am myself bought with a price, higher than all the 
riches of Rome; and all I have and am are his that 
purchased me. But thou as yet understandest naught 
of this. 

6. Now, behold me. Am I not whole once more, 
and able to walk and to work? And hath the ague 
any further hold upon me? See for thyself. But 
Patero said, It is magic, and its power will soon die 
and leave thee in worse case than before. Yet he 
believed not himself what he said, but knew not what 
to say, being utterly confounded at what he saw. 

7. Trigellus then told him that he was saved as well 
as healed, but the physician understood him not at 
that time. Therefore Trigellus said unto him, Go 
with me to an assembly of these people; they do 
hold a holy convocation on the morrow, which is the 
first day of their week. And after much persuasion 
he agreed thereto. 

8. And on the morrow, Peter, the apostle, who had 
come to Rome, discoursed to the congregation of the 
power of the Holy Ghost to save and to heal all who 
would call on the name of Jesus. 

9. And when many had testified to the Power in the 
salvation of their souls, and others to the healing of 
their ills, the heart of the physician was stricken, 
and he bowed his head before the assembly and said, 
I do acknowledge my fault and repent. 

10. My sins and my errors arise before me as moun- 
tains, and I beseech you to pray for me that I may 
be forgiven. And they prayed for him there. And 
the Spirit spake his pardon forthwith; and he said, 

11. I do renounce my art, and here shall be an end 
to the charms and my dependence on the gods and 
goddesses that are reputed of healing potency. 

n 



12. Only do ye pray for me ever, that grace may 
be given unto me to endure ; for there be many physi- 
cians in the city who will hate and persecute me 
henceforth because I have parted with my living for 
Christ's sake. 

13. For many of them are not honest, but do prac- 
tice deceit and use vain charms and mutterings of 
mystery, with divers incantations to drive away dis- 
ease; and do use drugs and herbs whose nature is 
unknown to any of them. 

14. So beginning that very day, he cast away his 
charms and drugs and the alluring signs of his craft, 
wherewith the greater part of the physicians of Rome 
were wont to entice people to submit to their prac- 
tices. 

15. Moreover he testified so mightily whithersoever 
he went, affirming the power of the gospel to save, 
that three other men who were physicians did like- 
wise and utterly turned away from their gods and 
goddesses of medicine and believed. 



CHAPTER X 

1. But for the most part the physicians and their 
patients mocked the Christians and their beliefs and 
said, Why did the gods cause the herbs to grow if 
they were not for healing? 

2. And why gave they man the power to compound 
drugs and the learning to understand the effects of 
the same and the causes and the cures of all manner 
of diseases? 

3. Go to, ye are fools and simpletons, distraught 
with delusions, led astray with dreams, and the prey 
of wicked visionaries who are puffed up with vanity 
and ignorance; 

4. Who in their conceit assert that they can pluck 
power from the skies and command the gods to do 
their will so that they bring them down from Olympus 
to make use of them. 

5. But their God is invisible, having no form of 
beauty like Apollo, or majesty like Jupiter; and they 
have no goddess at all, which is contrary to nature, 
for the female is the mother of all. 

6. And thus in their ignorance of the truth the 
heathen spake against the gospel and its power, and 
the people of God. 

28 



7. But some of the Christians answering said, 
Every herb of the field is for use, if men know their 
use, but the charms and incantations and all the mys- 
teries of the craft which the physicians employ to 
delude are evil and evil only. 

8. But the envious men among the physicians and 
their friends, who were very many, ceased not to rail 
against the Christians and especially at Peter, who 
boldly accused them of sorcery and falsehood. 

9. And Peter said, at all times when these matters 
were to the fore and talked of, If ye have an herb 
that will heal or cure, use it if ye will, but know this 
that Cod can cure and heal and restore to health 
without it; yea, and in the twinkling of an eye. 

10. But the physicians' enmity continued. How- 
beit many people in Rome and from distant places 
beyond the city brought their sick and afflicted ones 
to be saved and healed. And the healing accompanied 
salvation. 

11. For Peter said, and the spirit bore witness to 
its truth, Did not the Lord promise Israel that they 
should not be sick and ailing if they would have faith 
in obedience? 

12. And will he not keep his word with his people 
today as he did aforetime? I tell ye that he will. 
His word was Yea to them and is Yea to us. Every 
day, past, now and to come he is the same and un- 
changeable. 

13. He hath said, I am God, I change not. Let us 
then be like him. As he is toward us, let us be toward 
him, unchanging and steadfast in faith, believing all 
things for Christ's sake. 

14. Now such of the sick as were saved and made 
whole wearied not to tell all who would hear what 
the gospel had done for them. 

15. So the word of the Lord found acceptance in 
many parts of the great city and did run like fire in 
the dry grass, according to the Scripture which saith, 
Thy word is a flaming fire. 

16. And being full of zeal Trigellus builded a house 
in which the believers in that part of the city where 
he lived might meet to worship, and gave it to Peter 
and the others; 

17. For all that he had he placed on the altar of 
the Lord's service. Also many of his relations and 
very many of his servants sought and found salva- 
tion ; but some clung to their gods, and such he would 
not constrain but gave them suitable counsel. 

29 



18. For he said, The gospel is free and cannot be 
forced. Then it came to pass in a short time that the 
music and singing in the house that he had built 
became noised abroad and many that came to hear 
the same were turned away because the house was too 
small to contain the throngs. 

19. But some of these, listening outside, were con- 
verted and made to rejoice in the hope and faith and 
love that are found in salvation. 

20. For the spirit gave to the singers, men and 
women and children, sweet voices full of harmony, and 
conferred power on the musicians. 

21. Then Trigellus and other brethren both enlarged 
this house and caused others to be built in divers 
parts of Rome, for the congregations grew in number 
greatly. And Linus and others were ordained to 
preach and to read the Scriptures to them. 

22. For Peter, and Paul also when he was in Rome, 
sought out those who were gifted of speech and able 
to read the Word with profit to the hearer, and filled 
by the Holy Ghost with the desire and energy to 
search the Scriptures; 

23. And to study and meditate upon them, as well 
as to seek out acceptable words that they might be 
fully instructed in the kingdom, as Jesus had said. 

24. These were ordained to the work of ministering 
to the churches in Rome and other cities, and in the 
exercise of their holy office they often healed the 
sick on the streets and highways and brought salva- 
tion to them. 



CHAPTER XI 

1. Yet at this time many Christians began to be 
in want, the most part of them being very poor; also 
some of the bondservants were greatly stinted for 
food and were otherwise hardly treated by their 
heathen masters. 

2. Now corn was scarce in Rome, and very dear at 
this season, for a drought had parched the fields ; and 
for many months but few corn ships had come into 
port by reason of storms at sea. Also extortion. 

3. Then came about a score of these suffering men 
unto Peter, being also deputed by the churches, and 
said unto him, Entreat the Lord for us that we 
perish not, with our wives and our little ones. 

30 



4. Now the place where they were met was on a 
rising ground that overlooked the greater part of the 
city, and the sun was going down. 

5. Then Peter, stretching forth his hand, said, Be- 
hold now this great city, the Babylon of today and 
greater than Babylon in her pride and wealth; 

6. In the power of God's Spirit I say unto you that 
all its gold and glory are the Lord's and shall be his 
people's. Yea, his people shall possess it until the 
end come, and greater cities in other lands, and yet 
to be. 

7. For David said, The earth is the Lord's and the 
fullness thereof. And again he saith, Thou shalt 
inherit all nations. Also Jesus said, The meek shall 
inherit the earth. For his people in meekly obeying 
him through faith shall not fail of plenty. 

8. Verily this city shall stand for a witness for God 
and his people for all time. 

9. Yet many shall lack bread that lack faith, and 
bear debt that will not bear the cross; heaping unto 
themselves burdens of anxiety, and this too in times 
and lands of plenty when others shall abound in good 
things. 

10. And those times shall be known ^is the Era of 
Darkness, the Long Weakness and the Faithless Ages. 
Yet the whole earth shall hear this gospel which we 
preach ; 

11. And it shall come to pass that great nations, 
greater than any that now are, shall arise in the east 
and the west, in the north and to the south; and in 
them the people of God shall wax greater and greater, 
and the cross of Jesus, the crucified one, shall be hon- 
ored as never before. 

12. Yet shall the faith of the people wax and wane 
like the tide, in the ages to come; and many shall 
be a reproach to Him who redeemeth, by reason of 
their lack of faith. 

13. But in the fulness of time it shall come to pass 
that prophets and leaders shall arise among them, 
after they have said, There are no more prophets, 
and shall lead all peoples into a high place that shall 
enlarge more and more until peace and plenty and 
wisdom and joy shall abount beyond measure. 

14. And men shall want for nothing and fear noth- 
ing, for the morrow may have no terrors for them 
that believe and follow him whom to follow is to share 
in his triumph over sin and sadness. 



15. For David, prophesying, saith, Peace be within 
thy wails and prosperity within thy palaces. So shall 
it be unto you, if ye will, for the poor man shall in- 
herit a palace and the rich man be content with a 
hut, or a lodge of boughs, praising God therefor. 

16. When his kingdom is established on earth, from 
the sunrising to the setting thereof, there shall be 
no more poor in a friendless world, and no more starv- 
ing widows and little children crying for bread in vain. 

17. For men everywhere shall know, and knowing 
shall heed, that they are the stewards of God's store- 
houses; that all things are his for all, and they shall 
be thoughtful and diligent to share with them that 
want. 

18. The widow's cruse of oil, was it not replenished? 
And why, suppose ye, did Jesus feed five thousand 
with five small fishes and two loaves? 

19. Was it not that ye might know, beyond per- 
adventure, that all things needful would be provided 
by our heavenly Father for the day and hour of the 
need ? Else the miracle were in vain. 

20. Or when the wine of Cana was made by the 
word of his will, was it not that we might believe 
that even the richer things of life and joy should be 
ours as occasion requireth? 

21. As the Psalmist saith, He filleth the hungry 
with good things, meaning not with bare bread only. 

CHAPTER XII 

1. Men and brethren, let me say, According to 
your faith be it unto you, which were the words of 
Jesus, spoken in our hearing, and he proved himself 
to be the Saviour and Provider, for while with him 
we, the twelve, lacked nothing. 

2. When was it seen among the heathen that the 
teacher and his disciples were supplied without beg- 
ging? But without the asking, save of the Father, 
the money that was needed came unto Judas' bag. 
And he was a thief. 

3. The weak in faith shall receive little, but he who 
is strong in faith shall lack nothing but enjoy abun- 
dance, for he will restrict his wants to the needful 
and desire no more. 

4. Not as the wicked rich whose treasures turn to 
dust in their hands and whom nothing can satisfy, 
but who suffer from a new want born every hour. 

32 



5. But the righteous rejoice in the good things that 
God giveth them, even as good children have joy in 
the gifts which they receive from their earthly par- 
ents' hands. 

6. For their thankfulness shall no more fail than 
the cruse of oil and the handful of meal. In every- 
thing they give thanks. 

7. And David himself said in his old age, Never 
saw I the righteous man forsaken nor his seed beg- 
ging bread. Why then are ye fearful, ye of little 
faith? This our Lord asked of others. And said he 
not, 

8. Take no thought for the morrow, that is to say 
Be not anxious? And, Seek ye first the kingdom of 
God and his righteousness and all the needful things 
shall be added unto you. Do but let Jesus reign in 
your hearts and he will unlock his stores unto your 
satisfying. 

9. Then shall it come to pass, as the Scripture saith, 
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats 
shall overflow with new wine. 

10. I will say unto you again, for ye need to hear 
it yet again, as Paul our brother hath said, that Jesus, 
our Lord, hath revealed the Almighty Jehovah as our 
heavenly Father. 

11. Will he not then do as much for his spiritual 
offspring as ye earthly fathers seek to do for your 
children, and provide for his own who hath all things 
in his storehouse? 

12. Ye are prone to forget, but little it profiteth 
a man to hear and remember not. Verily, Satan's 
stronghold is forgetfulness. Many Davids have been, 
but the great David saith, Let thy heart retain my 
words; for he knew that many retain not the words 
of truth that are life, and so die the spiritual death 
or decline toward it. 

13. Your faith is but small or ye would have medi- 
tated on these things and comprehended them to your 
comfort ere this. 

14. Then the brethren answered Peter and said, 
We believe and will believe unto the end, whatever 
the end may be. For we repent of our lack of faith 
and shortsightedness. Come want or wealth, we will 
trust God. 

33 



15. And Peter answered, Ye have well said. And 
now I bid you all be of good cheer, for to the end 
that ye may know that God the Father will freely 
give all things that shall be needful unto his own, 
for his Son's sake. 

16. It hath been revealed unto me by the Holy 
Ghost that henceforth and for a season and time that 
God hath ordained, there shall be no more want 
unsupplied to the church, of any kind; 

17. Ye shall not lack food for yourselves or your 
children, nor money wherewith to buy the same and 
proper apparel, nor shall ye appeal in vain for shelter. 

18. And it was so from that time forth. In not 
one home of the faithful were famished children 
heard crying for bread, and all had enough and to 
spare. 

19. The stinted bondservants also were not for- 
gotten or neglected, but all were relieved with food 
and raiment by those that were free; for each had 
plenty and the poorest felt the joy of giving to the 
needy. 

20. And the affairs of some grew so greatly because 
of their faith and diligence that they were able to hire 
many laborers among their fellow worshippers ; 

21. Paying them so much for their hire that they 
and their children did not want, but lived in comfort 
on the fruit of their labor. For deeming that all 
things were Christ's and they his servants and stew- 
ards, their hearts and homes were open to all. 

22. Now when the heathen saw the prosperity of 
the churches and that even the poorest believers 
lacked nothing, and how they were all sober and indus- 
trious in a city where drunkenness and idleness 
abounded, and that they did freely share their store 
with others, they began to glorify the God of the 
Christians and condemn the gods of Rome. 

23. Insomuch that great envy and spite arose 
among the heathen priests. The unbelieving Jews, 
also, being wrapped up in the conceit of their supposed 
learning of Scripture, were filled with scorn for the 
many of the humbler Jews who had believed, and 
hated them because they mingled freely with Gentile 
Christians and ate with them, rejecting the Levitical 
meats and customs. 

34 



CHAPTER XIII 

1. And certain of these Jews conspired together 
to bring shame upon the Christians, for seeing that 
drunkenness prevailed among the people of Rome, 
from the greatest unto the least of the free popula- 
tion, and that the temperance of the spiritual churches 
was a reproach to them; 

2. And noting that two men, aforetime drunk- 
ards, had been converted and won to lives of sobriety, 
they planned to entice them to partake of strong 
drink to excess; professing themselves to be Chris- 
tians in order to deecive them. 

3. For they said unto them, It is but the cup of 
the Lord's Supper. Let us drink sparingly and with 
temperance, not unto excess. And being thus tempted 
by those who falsely called them Brethren, they 
yielded. 

4. And when they were drunken, the twain, who 
had ever been friends and companions, fought to- 
gether, being cunningly incited thereto by the givers 
of the drink. Then each sorely wounded the other 
with weapons placed at hand by the conspirators, so 
that they died of their hurts. 

5. But ere they died, each entreated forgiveness 
of the other and besought the Lord for pardon. 

6. Now when the news of this untoward event had 
been carried about all over the city and far beyond the 
gates by the malicious, great reproach fell upon the 
churches, and the Christians were filled with grief. 

7. Then Peter stood forth before all, in a great 
convocation, both of men and women, and said, Think 
it not strange that these things have befallen us. For 
the Spirit testifieth to me that strong drink shall 
be a greater stumbling block than any other. 

8. For it shall be as a river of fire flowing through 
the streets, not of Rome only, but of every city; yea, 
through the highways and along the byways and past 
the villages of every land. There shall be no place 
free from its ravages. 

9. And when I received the news from you, as I 
was outside the city, the Lord heard my prayer and 
yours, and he said unto me, Go now and speak to 
my people as I shall bid thee, concerning this river 
of drink. 

55 



10. Thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord, Its heart 
of fire shall have no pity, but red as the blood it 
drinketh and fervent as the hell it feedeth, it shall 
destroy men's reason, and dazzle rulers unto blind- 
ness; 

11. Who shall prostrate themselves before it, as 
before a god, and speak it fair ; and many shall launch 
themselves upon it as upon a pleasant stream. 

12. It shall carry away on its evil bosom, as on a 
flood, many pleasant homes, and houses of peaceful 
traffic, with divers other strong works of men, and 
devour them all. Until it flow into a lake of fire that 
flameth evermore. 

13. And it shall bring kingdoms into ruin, as it 
hath already, and the great ones of earth shall be 
bowed down before it and shall fall into ruin because 
of it, like tall trees on river banks in time of freshet. 

14. Verily, many of the best and fairest shall be 
consumed in its running flame. 

15. As the nations rise and wax great, it shall wax 
great and strong with them until it swallow up their 
labor and their honor, their merchandise and fine gold. 

16. It shall take the bread from their children's 
mouths and fill all ears with the wailing of the widow 
and the orphan. 

17. And the Spirit saith that this evil shall grow 
and spread through the whole earth until its ap- 
pointed time be fulfilled; and when that shall come 
and this fruit of iniquity be ripe to fall, it shall be 
shaken as with the blast of a sudden tempest. 

18. For the Lord shall raise up many prophets, 
both men and women, and his spirit shall cry aloud 
through them to decree the purging of the peoples 
and the liberation of the righteous from this scourge 
of many serpents. 

19. And then shall the mothers, the wives and the 
daughters of men arise, in all lands, and combine 
their might and sweep the flood of strong drink away, 
even as the Lord sweepeth back the waters from the 
seashore when the tide ebbeth. 

20. But, unlike the sea, this tide shall return no 
more forever. Yea, he will sweep clean every land 
from the abomination, and homes shall nevermore be 
made desolate by it. 

3 6 



21. For the Lord God is not blind to the tears of 
the stricken wife, nor deaf to the child's cry of want ; 
but in his own time he will bring it to pass, even as 
the prophet Habbakuk foresaw when he said, speak- 
ing to the thing accursed as it had been a man; 

22. Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all 
the remnant of the people shall spoil thee, because of 
men's blood, and for the violence done to the land, 
to the city and to all that dwell therein. 

23. Moreover he saith that in that day the earth 
shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the 
Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Wherefore com- 
fort ye one another with this assurance. 



CHAPTER XIV 

1. There was a certain robber named Polixta, who 
heard the gospel preached in Caesarea and was turned 
from his violent ways unto Christ, and being filled 
with the energy of the Spirit applied himself to the 
work of truth, inviting all whom he met to resist not 
the call of the cross of Jesus. 

2. He being received into the bosom of the church, 
said unto the elders, Behold, here are moneys which 
I have wrongfully gotten but know not from whom 
they were taken. 

3. For I waylaid rich travelers on the highways 
and forced them to relinquish their store on pain of 
death. And this I did for the space of six years. 
Also much of it was gained in casting lots and hazards 
with strangers. 

4. Now, therefore, take this money and use it for 
the kingdom's sake ; so shall my conscience be at ease 
in the Lord, for I dare not use it. 

5. The gold and silver are as coals of fire that con- 
sume me, though I have prayed with many groans 
and tears over them and my guilty life. 

6. Though truly I was driven to wrongdoing by the 
oppression of my country and my nation, and my 
father's birthright was wrested from me by the 
publicans. 

7. But the tender of this money caused great dis- 
puting among the brethren, yet not openly where 
unbelievers could take cognizance of it. 

37 



8. And some said, If we receive the money no good 
can come of it, but evil only, for the stain of inno- 
cent blood is upon it, as it were, though no man was 
slain or wounded in the taking of it. 

9. But much of it was gotten by putting travelers 
in fear of life or bodily hurt, and should not be min- 
gled with the honest gain of lawful labor. 

10. Then when they could not reach an agreement 
they wrote a letter and sent it unto Peter, saying, 
Should this money be given to the governor of the 
province though taken in more than one? 

11. Then Peter answered and wrote unto the church 
saying, Ye could not rightly distribute it to the proper 
governor, but there is no true government over you 
at this time, only confusion, profligacy and robbery, 
and the officer to whom ye might give it would but 
spend it in vice. 

12. I will but give my counsel, though I think I 
have the spirit. Inasmuch as none can tell whence 
this money came, let the church use it to help the 
poor and those unjustly held in prison for conscience 
sake, or for service of mercy of any sort. 

13. For truly when so used it is but restored to 
Him who is the owner of all things, the earth being 
Jehovah's and the fruits and fulness thereof. 

14. In all cases of conscience money it should be an 
ordinance that if proof can be made of wrong dis- 
possession, the same should be restored with usury 
for the same, and thanks for its use also. 

15. For it would be a cause of scandal and reproach 
to the church if we kept that which were another's 
against his will or consent, where the owner is known. 
But in this case it is impossible to know. 

16. Howbeit let the churches everywhere preach 
restitution of all ill gains wherever it can be done, 
remembering Zaccheus; and also Judas Iscariot the 
damned. 

17. Let us not sell the Son of Man afresh for silver 
or gold, nor for any sordid gain. 

18. But as all money hath passed through good 
and evil hands, and hath been the prize of craft and 
the price of guilt, it were an endless task to look 
closely into its adventures and essay to trace them. 

38 



CHAPTER XV 

1. Now there were certain devout men in the 
churches of Rome who, having much love for children, 
gathered many of them from the streets. These 
were starving, having been abandoned by their par- 
ents ; and others whose parents being dead, were like- 
wise without care, were brought in by them. 

2. And after they were fed and cleansed they were 
told about Jesus, how he took little children in his 
arms and blessed them, and these brothers and sis- 
ters in the Spirit were a blessing to the children whom 
they found and sheltered. 

3. For they instructed them in the truth. And 
other children, whose parents suffered them to attend 
the assemblies of the Christians, were also taught 
Christ. 

4. And many of them were saved and showed much 
diligence in learning, and some, when they arrived at 
years of discretion, were ordained to minister to the 
churches in spiritual things. Others suffered martyr- 
dom in the great persecution of a later day. 

5. These children brought others unto the churches 
who were also instructed in the way of life. And 
devout parents greatly desired that their children 
might be nurtured in the faith. 

6. Yet many of these, by reason of occupation and 
long hours of labor, as well as ignorance, could not 
teach them more than the first principles of their 
religion. 

7. Now many of the children of the heathen round 
about came to the assemblies of the churches and 
some were saved. 

8. Whereupon the priests of the heathen temples 
were angered, and chid the parents, who, for the most 
part, cared but little what their children did, being 
of the poorer class of free men and women, and the 
idols of Rome no longer satisfying them. 

9. And many of the priests were of vile character 
and held in but slight esteem; their rebukes also 
were little heeded. 

10. But the two children of Tiretio, a merchant, 
whose brother was a priest, came to a church assem- 
bly every Lord's Day, and were taught from the 
Scriptures by Lentulus, a devout and learned Chris- 
tian. 

39 



11. He visiting the father asked for permission to 
receive the children as members of the church, they 
having professed salvation. One of the children, a 
boy, was eleven years old; the other, a girl, was nine. 

12. Tiretio, willing to please his children who earn- 
estly entreated him to consent, gave permission and 
they were received. 

13. These two young Christians brought some of 
their young relations and companions to the church 
gatherings and of these several were saved and re- 
ceived, their parents consenting. 

14. But when the merchant's brother, the priest, 
heard thereof he was greatly displeased and persuaded 
the father to take his children from the Christian's 
company. 

15. Then the children would steal away from home 
to attend the church services, their parents not being 
very watchful nor greatly caring. 

16. But one Lord's Day their uncle, the priest, fol- 
lowed and found them there, and the same day com- 
plained to the authorities that the Christians had 
enticed the children away from their home. 

17. And after three days, Lentulus, against whom 
the chief complaint had been made, was put upon his 
trial, and his accuser made a bitter speech against 
him; after which the children were called upon to 
tell their story. 

18. But the little ones, and many of their youthful 
companions, with tears and entreaties on Lentulus' 
behalf, so prevailed that the magistrate made judg- 
ment in his favor and said, No proof hath been made 
of any unlawful act. 

19. Then Lentulus was set at liberty, and all the 
children, with their elders of the congregation, were 
glad because of the liberation of their beloved friend 
and teacher. 

20. And thereafter so many children and youthful 
persons sought instruction that Lentulus and others 
taught them at their homes in classes during the 
week at eventide. 

40 



CHAPTER XVI 

1. The churches of Rome greatly increased in 
strength, insomuch that some of the brethren came to 
Peter to ask for some different government; having 
chosen Ventilius, an elder, as their spokesman, who 
said unto Peter (now it was at the Tiburtine gate, as 
he came from Empulum), 

2. Seeing that thou hast been told in a vision that 
thou must suffer death for the Name, though when 
no man knoweth; it were well to name one to suc- 
ceed thee, with others of divers ranks under him, and 
for thee to instruct them in the right government and 
oversight of the many churches of Rome and other 
cities. 

3. Lest when the persecution cometh so large a 
flock be dissolved, having no head nor bond of unity 
and lacking discipline and law. 

4. For now that the visible kingdom of Jesus Christ 
hath grown to such dimensions, in congregations and 
in members, it should be knit together in such order 
and power as befits so great a body. 

5. Thou seest the Roman discipline, how strong and 
victorious it hath made the dominion of Caesar, that 
the bounds thereof extend throughout the whole 
world. 

6. It hath its officers of divers ranks, the one in 
authority over the other, from the Imperator down 
to the lowest officer, and obedience bindeth all to- 
gether in the greatest strength, so that none can 
resist Rome when she putteth forth her mighty arm. 

7. So thou at the head canst appoint officers who 
shall be next in authority to thee and others under 
them, that all things may be done in due and ordered 
fashion, and thus the growth of the kingdom and the 
soundness of its faith may be assured to those who 
shall come after. 

8. But Peter answered and said, Jesus taught us 
that his kingdom is not of this world, meaning to 
have it known that it was not to be of the fashion 
of an earthly kingdom, nor its armies like unto the 
hosts of earthly kings. 

9. The Roman army hath indeed its general at the 
head, with its pretors, tribunes and centurions, be- 
cause they are of the world and must needs have such 
ranks, for all the power they have springeth from 
themselves. 



10. The Roman general cannot multiply himself and 
take separate command in person of every legion, nor 
be a tribune over each and every thousand, nor cen- 
turion of every hundred. He can be in but one place 
at a time and do but one thing at a time. 

11. But with this kingdom, whose king and leader 
is Jesus, it is not so, for our God is a Spirit and can 
manifest himself everywhere. It is the Spirit that 
governeth his kingdom and giveth energy and support 
to his armies, being commander over all, directing 
each legion of his soldiers, being tribune of every 
thousand, captain of every company, leading them in 
person and with them always even unto the end of 
the world. 

12. He is in the heart of the humblest soldier, and 
his word is in the soldier's mind to direct him to a 
sure triumph. Thus led his armies can never know 
defeat. 

13. A man, though he be a king or a Csesar, is 
imprisoned in his body and can go but whither his 
body goeth. If he leaveth that cage he dieth, but the 
Holy Ghost is free and never dieth; God ever liveth 
and everywhere helpeth them that trust in his 
wisdom. 

14. For the Psalmist asketh God to uphold him 
with his free and willing spirit. So, as our brother 
Paul saith, God is upholding all things by the word 
of his power. Ye cannot go so far that he cannot 
and will not go with you, if ye will have his com- 
panionship. 

15. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? saith King 
David. Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 

16. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if 
I make my bed in the other world thou art there 
also. 

17. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell 
in the uttermost parts of the sea; 

18. Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy 
right hand shall hold me. Yea, the king saw always 
his God before his face. And this is the insight and 
vision of faith, even to know that he is ever present 
with his church, and in power. 

19. I say unto you that he who keepeth sun and 
moon and star in place, and marshalleth the armies 
of the sky in discipline, keepeth unto himself the con- 
trol of all created things; 

42 



20. And will surely keep us, from the greatest to 
the least, in the paths of righteousness. For this he 
giveth his Spirit to the church, and his grace is suffi- 
cient for all. 

21. Then answered one of the elders and said, 
Through persecution churches may be scattered and 
destroyed, or becoming corrupt may wither away, and 
who shall gather them together again and set them 
on a firm foundation, when thou and Paul and other 
leaders shall have fallen asleep? 

22. In whom then shall authority be vested? And 
Peter answered, saying, With his last words Jesus 
said, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven 
and on earth. 

23. Go ye therefore and make disciples of all the 
nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father 
and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost ; teaching them 
to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded 
you; and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end 
of the world. 

24. His commands are enough for us, for if we 
obey him he will not suffer his own to be lost, neither 
shall their words or works be without fruit. We will 
preach his gospel, and all things that are needful he 
will provide, as he doth our daily bread. 

CHAPTER XVII 

1. Verily I say unto you, and will say unto all, The 
sword may scatter the flock but the Lord shall gather 
it again. Though one church die another shall rise 
in its place like unto it, for the form and the doctrine 
never changeth, and every believing man and woman 
will unite their fortunes with it and cleave unto it, 
even as a wife to her husband. 

2. And it were better that a church not spiritual 
were dissolved, the same being a church only in name ; 
a fig tree bearing no fruit, to be cursed, not blessed. 

3. Such an one is an empty cruse of oil; a dead 
body from which the spirit hath departed. 

4. God needeth no help from man's devices, but his 
upholding and energizing Spirit is as free as the air 
to all who love him, and like unto the air which we 
breathe, as he hath said. 

5. For even as in the desert the air is as fresh and 
pure and health-giving as in king's gardens, so in the 
most barren life his Spirit will gladly enter, there to 
abide and uphold unto the end. 

43 



6. And Peter, being moved by the Spirit, said, Be- 
hold, thus saith the Lord by me, Churches shall perish 
here and there, in many places, when my Spirit shall 
have been grieved by sin and withdrawn; but others 
shall come into life in the simple form which I have 
framed, and grow unto my glory in the redemption 
of many. 

7. Even where two or three are gathered together 
in the name of the Saviour of Men, there is a church 
and holy convocation of Christ and his own, and he 
in the midst. 

8. And, large or small, no church hath preference, 
or authority over any other; they being likened unto 
circles large and small, which though of differing com- 
pass, possess one and all the same qualities and prop- 
erties. 

9. Therefore was the Greek name of Ekklesia, 
-which Jesus used, as it is now among the churches 
which worship in the Greek tongue, translated Circa, 
in the Latin tongue; and as ye know, the circle or 
church is a type, the symbol of equality. There shall 
be no lords over God's own. 

10. There shall be none among you greater than 
the other, except as it may be in the measure of his 
service, for one is your master, even Christ. Would 
ye dethrone him? 

11. Then said Ventilius, Nay, he is our King, but 
nevertheless in the dispensation of the Jews there are 
the high priest and others of divers ranks; yea, 
and all by ordinance of Jehovah. 

12. Then Peter answered and said, Yea, verily, but 
the word hath gone forth from heaven that Christ 
being come he is the end of the law to every man, 
and that the law was but a footservant to bring us 
to him, that he might become our only High Priest 
forevermore, and we be schooled by him. 

13. And the temple worship, with all its forms and 
ceremonials and its many ranks and orders of the 
priesthood, shall soon utterly perish from the earth, 
with the temple itself. 

14. But wherever there is a man of God, behold 
there is a priest of the Most High; and wherever a 
woman of God, a priestess; and all such are equal; 
for their lineage is of God, their father. Brethren 
and sisters are they of a holy and eternal family, 
having Christ as their elder brother. 

44 



15. And I say unto you, by the word of the Holy 
Ghost, that this most mighty power and state of 
Rome, and all other kingdoms which are of earthly 
wisdom builded shall utterly perish, but the kingdom 
of Jesus Christ shall ever endure. 

16. And the church, which seemeth weak of form 
and fabric, as it would be if of the flesh only, and 
made up as it is of weak men and women prone to 
sin and error, shall remain unto the end of the world. 

17. And though the end be nigh at hand or afar 
off in time, he hath promised, even the Lord of Hosts, 
that he will keep his covenant unto a thousand gen- 
erations; and though it should be that many, ye will 
look from the other world upon this earth and see 
such churches, both large and small; 

18. In the city, the village and the open field ; hold- 
ing yet to this simple form of ordinance and worship; 
a circle of equal believers, serving God with humility, 
in the bond of the Spirit and the discipline of Chris- 
tian fellowship. 

19. And Peter said, In the time of the great fall- 
ing away, when men shall usurp God's power and 
authority, blasphemously using Christ's name for the 
words of their own rebellious will, they in his name 
shall persecute and slay his people and scatter the 
churches. 

20. Yet, though they prevail for ages, to all seem- 
ing, the church shall exist in the people's hearts, for 
it needeth no costly form and visible armory, and will 
be in every Christian's family circle. 

21. Falsely, in the name of Christ, shall Satan and 
the wild beast that existeth to destroy fair things, 
which rageth in the heart of the ambitious hypocrite, 
set up kingdoms and oppress the peoples and make 
bondservants and merchandise of them, compelling 
them to do their wicked will in all things. 

22. But they and their kings, their priests and their 
governments, shall be utterly destroyed when, in the 
fullness of time, the Lord shall arise in his almighty 
power. 

23. For he shall take away the king and the power 
and the false Christ and all who shall have usurped 
his authority in any wise and stolen his name to serve 
the evil one. 

45 



24. And Peter said, Thou seest how the churches 
do proceed without halt or stumbling when I am with- 
out the city, and when Paul and others be absent. 
And this they will do when we depart to return no 
more in the flesh. 

25. Howbeit, there were yet some who believed that 
there should be a different order and government of 
the church. And this in time bore evil fruit. These 
seemed not to know that Isaiah had said, The gov- 
ernment shall be upon his shoulder, meaning Christ's. 

CHAPTER XVIII 

1. Now when the great persecution arose that 
spread throughout the world, and all ordered things 
seemed to the Christians to be overturning, as if por- 
tending the speedy coming of the end of the world, 
though none could say when that would be; 

2. It came to pass, to the wonder of all, that the 
more fires of hate were kindled the brighter grew the 
flame of faith, and the more diligently the Christians 
wrought for the salvation of souls. 

3. And there was a young damsel, twelve years old, 
named Nicia, and she was a daughter of the centurion, 
Pollio, but her mother was dead. 

4. She, learning from her nurse, who was a Chris- 
tian and bondservant, to love and serve the Lord 
Jesus Christ, came with her to the meetings of the 
disciples, and worshipped with them. 

5. But when her father heard thereof, she having 
asked to be received into the fellowship and entreat- 
ing his consent thereto, he was much enraged against 
the nurse, and ordered a manservant to scourge her. 

6. And being beaten for many days, she yielded up 
the ghost, praying for her master, that he might be 
forgiven and saved. 

7. For she said, He knoweth not what he doeth, 
being in idolatry; but God, who can do all things 
that are possible, may bring light and immortality to 
light through the gospel unto his heart and mind as 
he hath to me and others. 

8. And after she was dead Pollio's conscience smote 
him that he could not sleep, for she had also been his 
nurse when he was a child. 

9. And as he lay upon his bed, grieving and nigh 
distraught, there appeared as it were a crown of 
thorns before him and straightway it vanished. 

46 



10. And when the vision had been repeated unto 
seven times it ceased to appear. Thereupon he sent 
for his daughter and told her what he had seen, for 
he knew not what it meant. 

11. Then she told him of Jesus' crown of thorns 
that was placed on his head in mockery when he was 
crucified. And falling on her knees by his couch, 
Nicia prayed, saying, O God of Mercy, who hast 
appeared unto my father through the sign of the suf- 
fering of thy son, Jesus, do thou look in mercy upon 
him and our house. 

12. Open his heart and give light to his understand- 
ing that he may know what this meaneth to him, 
as to all, that he may be forgiven and saved. 

13. And she continued to pray earnestly for her 
father, and besought him to repent of his violence 
and wickedness and believe. 

14. But he groaned in his spirit and said, My sins 
and my evil passions have fast hold upon me, and I 
am as a hart beset by the hounds, not knowing which 
way to turn for safety. 

15. And he arose and went out hastily from his 
daughter's presence. 

16. Now it came to pass, not many days after this, 
that coming with his soldiers to seize all who were 
engaged in prayer and praise to Christ, which was 
now done everywhere, he beheld his daughter with 
the company. 

17. Then being overcome by his love for her, and 
his conscience bearing witness against him, he fore- 
bore to seize any person there, but departed, and his 
soldiers with him. 

18. And on the next Lord's Day, as the disciples 
were at worship in the same place, Nicia came again 
and, behold, her father was with her. 

19. Then he humbled himself, and confessed his sin 
before them all and said, I now believe in the example 
of Jesus Christ and in his life and the power of his 
blood. 

20. And relating the vision, he said, This crown 
of thorns, placed as it were by mine own soldiers on 
the bleeding brow of Jesus, the Great Martyr, hath 
become to me a crown of glory; for I would not part 
with my salvation to wear all the crowns, one by one, 
of all the kings of earth. 

47 



21. As I lay on my couch or went about engaged 
in my daily occupation, the remembrance of that 
vision of the crown was with me, and my daughter's 
prayer interpreted it to mine understanding. 

22. Then went I unto Jesus in prayer and besought 
him that I might wear the crown of thorns in his 
stead until I die. Then heard I the voice of my 
daughter's nurse who had died of the stripes laid 
upon her and she said, Grieve no more; the Lord 
hath appointed me to announce that thou art for- 
given. Go thou unto the church and make thy sal- 
vation known. Whereupon my soul rejoiced in the 
assurance that he hath received me and wiped out all 
my guilt in full forgiveness. 

23. Even this morning, as the day brake, the Spirit 
of the Lord came upon me like unto a fountain gush- 
ing forth in a sun-parched and desert place, and 
refreshed my anxious soul with peace. 

24. Then the church straightway received him into 
fellowship, and shortly thereafter all his house, also, 
both his sons and his servants; they trusting in the 
atonement that was made on Calvary. 

25. For some of the disciples went to his house and 
discoursed unto all that were assembled there; and 
healed one aged servant who was afflicted with lame- 
ness and other ailments. 

26. Then Pollio would serve Csesar no longer in his 
army, and later became an elder of the church. And 
being sent on a mission to Egypt he, returning, was 
shipwrecked, and with the ship's company was cast 
on an island. 

27. There he preached to the barbarians, who re- 
jected his message, save one man only who came to 
Rome with him, and faithfully served the church. 
But the ship's company were converted, every one. 

CHAPTER XIX 

1. Now the jealousy of the heathen priests, and 
the envy and hatred of the Jews and physicians 
wrought much havoc among the churches. 

2. For everywhere these and other enemies spread 
false reports of the Christians, accusing them of many 
crimes and abominations. And as Jesus had fore- 
told, they were hated of all men for his name's sake. 

3. Then the disciples were constrained to meet in 
secret places at night, yet being oft found by spies 
were haled to prison. 

48 



4. But a few, scorning to conceal their worship, 
openly proclaimed Christ on the streets and were put 
to death. 

5. Also some of the houses where they were wont 
to worship were burned by throngs of the baser 
citizens. 

6. Then some who were weak in the flesh renounced 
the faith, but the most part rejoiced that they were 
counted worthy to die for the Saviour; and as they 
were led out to be put to death they comforted one 
another with words of cheer and godly consolation. 

7. Now the disciples were wont to baptize proselytes 
in Tiber, but owing to the persecution it was oft 
deemed expedient to use but a little water in a house. 

8. But some murmured at this and said, This should 
be done openly and before all men. Ye do pervert 
the ordinance of the Lord. 

9. And Paul, being in Rome at this time, consented 
thereto, being unwilling to hazard the lives of the 
newly converted and others; but when Peter was 
come he said unto Paul, This must not be. These 
must go to Tiber or some other public place where 
there is much water. 

10. But Paul said, If so they must needs suffer 
death. And Peter, answering, said unto him, Shall 
we fear to put our lives in jeopardy? Shall we not 
rather risk all for Christ ? 

11. Then Paul said, Must all die for an ordinance? 
These ought to live, if it please the Lord to spare 
them, that they like us may spread the gospel. 

12. The gospel of Jesus Christ is for the living, 
not the dead. When they are dead they cannot preach 
to those who are in the flesh. 

13. Moreover it is not baptism that sanctifieth but 
faith. Wherefore no man should cast away his life 
without due cause, but if need be he should not refuse 
to suffer for the truth's sake. 

14. For I am persuaded that neither baptism nor 
any ordinance should, for form's sake, be suffered to 
hinder the greater work of the gospel. 

15. For thou knowest that baptism is the sign of 
repentance and regeneration which the Lord gave unto 
us, but it is his blood that baptizeth us, through the 
Spirit, unto cleansing from sin. 

16. Therefore should we receive all who come to us 
in faith, whether it be expedient to baptize them 
thoroughly or no, or to baptize them at all at this 
time. 

49 



17. Especially as we see that the Spirit waiteth 
not for the water to wash the body but cleanseth the 
soul to the whitness of a summer cloud. 

18. Howbeit, when a pool in any house is con- 
venient let them be baptized therein, and if not we 
should suffer the use of less water. 

19. Then when it shall please God that this perse- 
cution shall pass, all who so desire can be baptized 
even as the others. 

20. But Peter said, I stand for the baptism of the 
Lord, even Jesus Christ. Let all be baptized as he 
was and even in the running river water that carrieth 
away the foulness of the land unto the sea. 

20. And Peter and Paul were greatly aroused and 
they strove together in high dispute, whereat many 
of the disciples took sides vehemently, and there was 
almost a tumult in the assembly. 

21. Others were grievously distressed and in tears, 
seeing the apostles were at variance. 

CHAPTER XX 

1. Then arose a disciple who was surnamed Agape, 
a Greek of Cenchrea, and he said, Fathers and breth- 
ren, why do ye have dissension among yourselves? 

2. Know ye not that the people are amazed, and 
drawn this way and that, when they see that ye strive 
and dispute with contrary opinions? For we are as 
your children and babes in knowledge. 

3. Ye are our teachers and examples to us; yet do 
we perceive that in this thing there hath not been 
prayer and fasting enow. 

4. And behold, it hath been given unto me by the 
Spirit to declare that the day cometh when no man 
shall know how Jesus, our Lord, was baptized, nor in 
what manner we have received this rite of water 
baptism. 

5. For persecution shall continue and increase, and 
we shall be slain or dispersed; yea, a residue shall 
be scattered throughout the earth. 

6. Wherefore the Spirit counseileth peace and for- 
bearance according to the time and trial that cometh 
upon all the churches. 

7. And I wist not, brethren, why this vision was 
given unto me, but now I know. 

8. Then some cried out, A prophet hath spoken. 
Let all heed his word. 



9. Others said, Nay, he is not learned in the Scrip- 
tures, and we have heard that he still cleaveth partly 
to his gods of Greece; why heed him? 

10. This they said because he used many Greek 
words in his speech, being imperfect in the Latin 
tongue. 

11. Then Agape cried out, If the Lord hath not 
spoken by me let me not live. And because, not many 
days after, this man was put to death, being slain 
by a soldier while proclaiming the truth as it is in 
Jesus, some said that he was judged out of his own 
mouth. 

12. But others said, Then are many judged who 
are known to have been blameless. 

13. But when the assembly broke up for that time, 
Peter and Paul took Agape apart and said, We were 
not moved by wrath, but in sincere earnestness striv- 
ing for truth's sake. Now tell us more of this vision, 
if it be such. 

14. Then Agape said, The Spirit moved me to say 
what I have said when the occasion should arise ; and 
moreover that we should be vigilant lest we fall into 
the error of the rebellious Jews, who look to the letter 
and not to the spirit of the word. 

15. Saying, That which is written in Moses fore- 
shadows Christ, but they have forsaken or rejected 
the substance for the shadow. Guard against this as 
men guard the apple of the eye. 

16. Words are husks, and husks decay and are 
trampled under foot, but truth is the kernel and the 
food of life. Throw not away, therefore, the kernel 
for the husk. 

17. Also the fashion of speech, as of garments, 
changeth; but man that useth the one and weareth 
the other changeth not. Heed not then husk nor 
raiment, but look for that which sustaineth life and 
strength. 

18. Then when Peter and Paul had prayed together 
long and earnestly, seeking light and true concord, 
they called an assembly of the Christians of Rome; 
and Peter said unto them, Of a truth I perceive that 
in this emergency we should choose the safer path ; 

51 



19. For the washing of the body in the name of 
Father, Son and Holy Ghost is but a figure of the 
cleansing that is without hands or hyssop or water; 
and yet it is the testimony of a good conscience 
toward him whom we worship. By grace are we 
saved through faith, not works. 

20. So this baptism which we administer to the 
body, as a ceremonial cleansing, speaketh of a better 
purifying than that of the body, even a baptizing 
of the soul. 

21. For verily a baptizing of the body needeth to be 
oft repeated if we would remain clean, but the other 
never again if we remain clean in spirit and desire. 

22. Forasmuch then as baptism signifieth the 
cleansing that should endure, let us still be clean in 
hand and heart toward God and man unto the end. 

23. Now in this confused time the enemies of the 
faith would lay violent hands upon such as they 
caught while engaged in the worship of Jesus; and 
others who were suspected of being Christians were 
in like danger. 

24. Some were crucified; others, if citizens, were 
beheaded; many were slain by the sword privily and 
others suffered death from the beasts or the gladi- 
ators. 

25. Also many evil-minded men used the perse- 
cution as a pretext to destroy such as they hated, or 
whose goods they coveted, though these were not 
Christians, making false accusation against them. 

26. But in the beginning of this persecution, for one 
cast into prison, two came and joined themselves unto 
the church. 

27. For men and women everywhere openly pro- 
claimed their faith in Jesus Christ, knowing that in 
so doing they put their lives in jeopardy. And others 
who would be baptized only in Tiber were seized as 
they came up out of the water, and were put to death 
with songs of praise in their mouths. 



CHAPTER XXI 

1. Shortly after these things Peter was cast into 
prison, and they sought to lay hands on Paul and 
Apollos also, but they were absent from the city. 

2. And it came to pass that in prison the Spirit of 
the Lord came upon Peter, and he prophesied, saying, 

5? 



3. Thus saith the Lord, he that shall bring it to 
pass: Though I have ever had my seers and my 
prophets in the world at appointed times, to declare 
my will and counsel; save when the people waxed 
cold in unbelief and rebellion and letter worship. 

4. Verily the time shall come when there shall be 
a great falling away and Doubt shall reign as with 
the power of six crowns. 

5. Then their young men and maidens shall no 
longer prophesy, and no vision of me shall come unto 
the old men, but the spirit of the old shall wax cold 
ere their blood shall lose its heat. 

6. For the prophet's voice and Wisdom's warning 
cry shall not be heard or heeded, but shall be scorned 
and scoffed at, as when my servant, Noah, preached 
to a hardened world. 

7. And then the mouths of the prophets shall be 
sealed, the seer no more shall see my guiding hand, 
and there shall be silence in heaven for the time that 
I shall set; while the vision shall be untold and the 
former vision shall be mistold. 

8. And Peter, being full of the Spirit, warned the 
churches, saying, In those days men shall say, The 
book is closed, and repeat the saying, All the books 
are closed and God will speak no more. 

9. And others will say, He never yet spake to man 
or woman or child; to Moses nor to Samuel, to 
Deborah nor Barak, to Isaiah nor Joel, but the Scrip- 
tures are all cunning contrivances and childish fables. 

10. And for many generations it shall be as it was 
in the days of Micaiah, when all the prophets but he 
only stood up for the wicked king against God and 
his word. 

11. There shall be again and yet again, as in those 
days, four hundred prophets for the evil ruler and 
one for God and his counsel. And that one shall be 
persecuted or scorned, even as Micaiah, and the word 
of truth be denied. 

12. For the preacher shall fear for his crust and 
the priest for his living. And both shall bow down 
before Mammon or power and cringe for their favor. 
And though the seer and proclaimer of spirit-truth is 
ever a prophet, this shall be denied. 

13. Then in process of time, when the fruit of the 
ages is falling ripe, God will visit his people again. 

53 



14. But ere the heavens shall open, in those days 
the scrolls of knowledge shall be multiplied as by 
miracle, even as the drops of rain shall they be in- 
creased; and they shall carry word, good and bad, 
by day and night, unto the ends of the earth. 

15. There shall nothing hap in one place that shall 
not be known in every other. And many of these 
scrolls shall be formed into books without number. 

16. As angels and devils shall these scrolls be, even 
as white winged angels to carry truth with other good 
things, and as devils to teach lies and to give the 
counsel of deceit and robbery. 

17. And between these legions shall war ever be 
waged, without truce for an hour, until the word of 
truth triumph and God be once more revealed and 
glorified. 

18. For revealed he shall be. Yea, when the world 
is mad after the whoredoms of vanity and idolatry 
and following after Mammon as eagerly as soldiers 
pursue a fleeing enemy, and the residue of the saints 
shall grieve because of it; 

19. The heavens shall open once more and the 
vision of his glory shall appear ; for the dumb mouths 
shall be loosed as aforetime, the lost word shall be 
found and the truth of the Lord shall run like the 
wind of the hurricane, and his prophets be heeded and 
honored. 

20. When the uttermost parts of the earth shall 
be joined together by land and sea and air, the gospel 
shall fly and spread so speedily on the wings of the 
new morning that men shall wonder thereat and the 
name of Immanuel be in every mouth. 

21. And signs and wonders shall follow, for infidels 
and blasphemers shall fall at his feet in penitent 
tears; and those whose hearts are cold, who are the 
hardest of all men to kindle, shall confess their sins 
and avow their faith with fervor, cleaving unto God 
to live sober and reverent lives thereafter. 



CHAPTER XXII 

1. Then shall the righteous sing the praises of the 
Lord, saying, Behold the day of gladness is come, and 
Jehovah hath visited his people, as of old. 

2. The world hath put on fresh and beautiful gar- 
ments, as the earth in spring. 

54 



3. And now the summer time and singing birds 
appear, and the golden harvest of souls redeemed 
draweth nigh. 

4. There shall be no more winter in our hearts, but 
instead of the flinty ice of selfish sin there shall be 
the warm sunshine of the open hand and the dew of 
love that quickeneth. 

5. In place of the stony heart the tender thoughts 
of God's mercy, like the young shoots of the vine. 

6. From the mouth of foul cursing and blasphemy 
shall now come forth the gracious words of blessing 
and well-wishing. 

7. And in lieu of the dumb and sealed fountains of 
prophecy cometh the gushing and crystal stream of 
revealed truth. 

8. For the seer shall see; he shall speak plainly, 
and the hearer shall understand. 

9. And the arch of heaven become a crown of glory 
for the earth. 

10. Furthermore, Peter said, In that day, in the 
market place and the stall of the money changer, cun- 
ning and covetousness shall have an end, and men 
shall deal fairly with each other. 

11. For extortion shall cease where aforetime 
eternal damnation waited with outstretched hands of 
iron to clutch him who dealt greedily for gain. 

12. The wild beast of prey, fiercer than any that 
roam in the wilderness; that is like the lion and the 
bear and the leopard in one, for greed and destructive- 
ness; and which lurketh in the heart of the wicked 
and in the throne of the evil king, shall be cast out, 
and the fowls of the air shall devour his carcase. 

13. He shall profane no more the altar and the 
throne, and the oppressor shall fall on his own sceptre 
and break it in pieces ; while the false and time- 
serving prophet that hireth his word for high place 
and filthy lucre shall be the toy of the whirlwind. 

14. Verily, and again verily, thus saith the Lord, 
In mine appointed time the nations shall come from 
the east and the west, from the north and the south, 
from the isles beyond the sea and from the uttermost 
parts of the earth, and overthrowing the wild beasts 
of power; 

15. They shall destroy the last hold of wicked kings 
and mighty captains swift to do their wicked will; 
together with the false prophets and spiritual leaders 
who strengthened the cruel sceptre with lying praise 
and blasphemy. 

55 



16. And the nations, rising in righteous wrath 
against the wrongdoers in high places, shall join hands 
instead of crossing swords and bring in and crown 
again the Prince of Peace. 

17. For enduring peace shall smile upon the weary- 
peoples of the long grieved and sorely vexed earth. 
But upon the guilty ones the edge of the sword of 
God's justice shall fall in judgment. 

18. Thus shall it come to pass that the snorting war 
horse shall paw the ground no more, and his blood- 
stained rider shall die under the sword that he hath 
drawn. 

19. And the residue of the nations that stood afar 
off and came not up to the help of the Lord against 
the mighty shall wither away, as leaves bitten with 
a blight do wither and fall under foot. 

20. And then it shall come to pass that the small 
and weak shall be shielded by the great and strong; 
and once more Jerusalem, my own, shall be freed from 
the profaner of the holy places of old. I, the Lord, 
have spoken, and thus shall it be. Amen. 



CHAPTER XXIII 

1. Now when Rome was burning, being on fire in 
divers places at once, and the flames spreading fast 
by reason of the wind, the greater part of the city 
was in darkness because of the thick smoke which 
arose and overspread the earth like a thick cloud. 

2. Then some of the Christians perished in the fire 
and smoke, as did many other persons. 

3. But Peter, who had been lately set at liberty, 
was accused by his enemies of inciting his brethren 
to put the torch to the city. 

4. Now Csesar believed them not, but being him- 
self suspected, he caused him, with many other Chris- 
tians, to be cast into prison again, saying, Behold, 
while I am diligently putting out the flames, these 
miscreants are kindling them again. 

5. Now Paul was in hold already, having been 
brought to Rome in chains. For both he and Peter 
oft visited other cities and countries, confirming the 
churches and founding others. 



6. And in prison it came to pass that, with many 
elders and other brethren, they sang and prayed to 
the Lord, saying, Thou, O Christ, art the sun of the 
morning that scattereth the darkness and lighteneth 
the earth. 

7. Yea, though the night descend upon thy people 
to blot out their homes and beloved ones from their 
sight, and none can see his hand before him and the 
path is gone; 

8. Thou, Orb of Righteousness, dost arise upon 
him in due season and heal the clouded sight with 
light. 

9. Even as the risen sun drinketh up the rain pools 
and dryeth the tears in the eyes of myriads of flow- 
ers, so dost thou dry the eyes that weep in sorrow. 

10. And even as sun and rain together beautify the 
dull sod with golden grain and ruddy fruit, so do thy 
children flower and bear fruit ; not at one season only 
but at all times, under the hand of thy husbandry. 

11. When they be wayworn and weary, with the 
dew of thy love dost thou bathe their feet; with the 
springing waters of thy presence thou dost refresh 
them. 

12. Thou layest thine hand upon their heads and 
anointest them with the balm of thy consolation. 

13. When the wicked compass them about like the 
storm cloud of the mountain ; and the hail descendeth 
and the lightning smiteth and destroyeth; 

14. With thy mighty hand thou rollest up the cloud 
as a scroll, and shutteth up the lightning in thy 
heavens, commanding the thunder into silence. 

15. Though the envious and the hateful come up 
against thy saints like ravening wolves, yet shall they 
not fear; for the Shepherd will keep his flock safe 
within the fold, and not one shall be destroyed. 

16. And though the flame devour the body yet shall 
the spirit live to praise thee forever; golden harps 
shall sound thy praise above the trumpets of kings, 
and before the throne of him that ceaseth not to see 
and to save. 

17. Deliver us all, Lord God the preserver of 
souls, and suffer not one of us to weaken and be lost, 
so saving us from the grasp of the evil one. 

18. Let none of us falter or deny thee whatever 
befall, even though we burn as torches to light the 
scene of riot and reveling. 

57 



19. Let thy sovereign compassion be upon our wives 
and little ones, though we should see them no more 
in the flesh and be torn asunder by claw and fang of 
the beasts. 

20. Hear us, God, for thy Son's sake; hear us 
for the blood he freely gave. 

21. Hear us for the cross and crown of thorns, for 
the nail and spear he freely suffered. 

22. Hear us for the resurrection and ascension of 
our anointed Lord and let our spirits ascend with him 
to Thee in the hour of our dying. 

23. Then it came to pass that this hymn was sung 
in all the churches and wherever Christians were 
dispersed. 

24. Now Peter and Paul suffered death on two dif- 
ferent days, and not in the same manner, for Peter 
was crucified; 

25. But Paul was beheaded, being a Roman citizen; 
and Tergillus, Patero and Urbanus were beheaded 
likewise. 

26. And before he died he turned to the people and 
to the soldiers whose spears and swords shone in a 
circle around him, and blessed them all, but some 
reviled him. 

26. And Paul said, The sun now setteth for the 
last time on mine eyes of flesh but with those eyes 
that death can not dim I do behold a light that gleam- 
eth not from sun or lamp. 

27. Now my last words are these: Behold, this city 
of shining swords shall become the city of the shining 
cross, and the light from it shall cover the whole earth 
as with a canopy of gold. 

28. Then was Paul beheaded with one stroke of the 
sword and a great groan ascended from the people. 
And a woman cried and said, There dieth a just and 
holy man. 

29. And one of the soldiers picked up the severed 
head and kissed it, whereupon the centurion com- 
manded other soldiers to seize him for the breach of 
discipline, but they would not. 

30. Then the centurion fearing a mutiny forebore 
to punish him at that time. And this soldier was 
said to be one of those who had been Paul's guard 
aforetime. 

58 



31. Now when Peter was led forth to die, he en- 
treated that he might be crucified with his head down- 
ward, saying, I am not worthy to die as did my Lord 
because I denied him. 

32. And they suffered it to be so. And while so 
suspended Peter spake words of comfort to those who 
were crucified with him; but because of the pain and 
agony of his crucifixion he died before them. 

33. Now I can write no more at this time, and mine 
own end, I think, is near. The Lord be with thee, 
and with all the faithful. Amen. 



LIBRARY op cowrpcco 

wm. 



